"The creative in me

He'll press the switch."

Vol.4

Designer/Artist

"Sewing tools"

Tomoe Shinohara

Live comfortably. You will shine.
Lineart Charmant 15th Anniversary Special Interview Project

A person who is full of radiance is sure to have the best partner by their side.

When you become one with a wonderful partner, you can shine endlessly.

Line Art Charmant also wants to be a "partner" that is close to people and helps them shine even more.

From the stories of 15 professionals active in various fields

We will unravel the secret of the brilliance that comes from a sense of unity with your partner.

People who are full of brilliance are sure to have the best buddies by their side. When you become one with the perfect partner, you can shine endlessly. That is also the idea behind Line Art. We want to be close to people and increase their brilliance.

We will speak with 15 professionals active in a variety of fields and unravel the miracles that unity brings about and the secret of its brilliance.

Live in comfort. You will shine.
Lineart Charmant 15th Anniversary Special Interview Project

Vol.4

Designer/Artist

"Sewing tools"

Tomoe Shinohara

- Express yourself by wearing the clothes you design

Tomoe Shinohara says that her grandmother was a kimono seamstress and her mother was into tailoring.

"I grew up in an environment where I was exposed to manufacturing from an early age, so as a child I would draw pictures and make clothes and accessories for dolls. It was a very natural progression for me to become interested in fashion and design."

While studying drawing, two-dimensional composition, and product design at a high school where he could study design, he made his debut at the age of 16. He says that the colorful and unique fashion that sparked the social phenomenon known as the "Shinola Boom" was something that came from within him.

"I thought that wearing what I liked and expressing my individuality was part of my job as an artist. Ever since my debut, I would draw design drawings and repeatedly present them to the adults around me, and I was happy when my ideas were recognized."

While working in the media, she also majored in fashion at university.

"My days were busy, dealing with school assignments in between my work in the entertainment industry, but I was simply happy and enjoyed being able to design and wear clothes that I made myself. I aspired to become a designer, but at the time there were so many things I liked that I couldn't narrow down my path."

At the age of 20, he designed the costumes for a stage play he was performing in, which drew attention as a designer, and he gradually began to receive more offers for creative work. In 2013, he was selected as the costume designer for Yumi Matsutoya's concert "POP CLASSICO," and in 2015 he joined the costume design team for Arashi's concert "ARASHI BLAST in Miyagi."

"I was inspired by the work of professionals, such as stage artists and directors. It was a valuable experience that inspired me to come up with ideas that go beyond expectations and create something first-class."

- I want to enjoy the design process and share my ideas

In 2020, he founded the creative studio "STUDEO" with art director Ikezawa Tatsuki.

"Working as a team is our strength, as we can handle the entire process from planning to production and even getting the product into people's hands. Creative work begins with research. By sharing opinions and digging deeper into things we don't know or have never done before, we can make unexpected discoveries and learn a lot. When I was a teenager, I was satisfied just designing things I wanted to wear and things that looked good on me, but now I think about the process of how the works I create reach people's hearts."

In 2021 and 2022, the brand won the New York ADC Awards, an international advertising award. In particular, "THE LEATHER SCRAP KIMONO", which won both the Silver Cube and Bronze Cube in 2022, is a kimono made of leather. The beauty of the natural curves of the edges of the layered leather and the rich, new look of the color gradation reminiscent of a sumi-e painting drew praise.

"We went through a lot of trial and error to find the best way to express the tradition and appeal of Japanese natural leather, which has a long history. By using parts that would normally be discarded, we believe we have been able to convey not only beauty but also a message of sustainability."

Since then, his creative activities have expanded into a wide range of areas, including designing uniforms for hotel staff, judging design competitions, and creating trophy products.

Tomoe Shinohara uses these sewing tools when creating her own creations. The pouch was made from unraveling the fabric of a kimono made by her grandmother. She also uses a pincushion inherited from her mother, and tools that she has been using since her student days to create her new creations.

The glasses worn this time are the Solo Collection's XL11310 BK. The minimalist yet well-calculated shape brings a three-dimensional look to the face.

- Encouraged by the tools passed down through the generations

Whenever Shinohara is working on something, he always has by his side the tools he inherited from his grandmother and mother.

"The pouch was made by undoing a kimono made by my grandmother. The pincushion was a gift from my father to my mother, who I inherited when she was a university student studying fashion, saying, 'From now on, you will be the one to make a lot more things.' At the time, I never imagined that I would make things as a career, but I feel like my life is being guided by my roots, which continue through my grandmother, mother, and myself. The scissors and tape measures that I have been using since my student days have my name written on them, such as 'Shinohara' or 'Shinora', and they are also more than just tools that I cannot do without."

Touching tools and fabrics that have been used and become familiar to your hands can stimulate your imagination and act as a trigger for creative ideas.

"The impression you get when you touch something is important not only for the creator but also for the recipient.

I think that's very important. I want to deliver my works with confidence in the recipient's sensitivity to something that has been carefully and laboriously made."

For Shinohara, glasses are her instigator for creating things, just like her sewing tools.

"I often wear glasses when I'm working, so they help me get into a creative mode. When I choose frames, I base them on both what they add to my style as a fashion item and what they represent as my own personality."

- Respect for the craftsmanship of Sabae's eyeglass craftsmen

At Charmant Ginza Namiki-dori, Shinohara picked up a pair of crown-pant-shaped glasses with an intellectual impression, with a subtle contrast of black and gold. All of Line Art Charmant's frames are made with the flexible springiness of the proprietary material "Excellence Titanium" and "laser joining technology" that makes the most of the material, pursuing comfort that makes you forget you are wearing them.

"I was impressed by how light they were the moment I put them on, but after hearing about the development process, I realized that it's not just that they're light in weight, but that they feel light to wear. They fit comfortably on your face, like they're a part of you."

Due to the nature of my job, I am often inspired by the stories of craftsmanship, and I particularly listen to the stories of craftsmen with great respect.

"Japan has a lot of wonderful technologies, and Sabae's eyeglasses industry is one of them. An acquaintance of mine from Fukui told me that Sabae eyeglasses are the pride of Japan. When I heard that it took eight years just to develop the material, my heart warmed just thinking about it. I would like to visit the workplace of the craftsmen who work on the work of eyeglasses, pouring in lots of ideas and thoughts, and carrying out precise and delicate work one day."

Shinohara hopes that in the future, in addition to design, he will also be more proactive in communicating the stories of the materials and techniques behind manufacturing.

"When you see amazing craftsmanship, your appreciation for the item grows even more. I want to incorporate the process of developing and passing on skills into my own designs, while also shedding light on the noble work of artisans."

What do sewing tools mean to Shinohara?

Just as Shinohara's sewing tools are her "partners" and the roots of her creations, Line Art Charmant will continue to aim to be a partner that is close to everyone and makes their lives brighter.

Photos: Yoshihito Sasaguchi (SIGNO)

Styling: Tomoe Shinohara

Hair & Make-up: Yoko Suemitsu

Realization: Tomoko Shimizui

INFORMATION

"Heart Art Project"

She is a special supporter of the "Heart Art Project," a project that solicits paintings created through hobbies or treatment by people with mental illnesses, including schizophrenia.

https://www.mental-navi.net/togoshicchosho/live/event/index.html

PROFILE

Born in Tokyo in 1979. Graduated from Bunka Women's University Junior College, Department of Clothing, Fashion Creative Course, Design Major. Debuted as a singer with Sony Records in 1995. After working as a singer, narrator, and actor, she is currently continuing her creative activities as a designer, and has worked on stage jackets and program costumes for artists such as Yumi Matsutoya's concert tour and Arashi Dome concert. In 2020, she founded the creative studio "STUDEO" with her husband, art director Ikezawa Tatsuki. In addition to uniform design, she has collaborated with various companies, and in 2022, the leather kimono she designed and directed won the Silver Cube in the Brand Communication Design category and the Bronze Cube in the Fashion Design category at the New York ADC Awards, an international advertising award, and the Tokyo ADC Award. She has appeared on the TV program "Mii-tsuketa!" on NHK Educational TV and as a radio personality on TOKYO FM's "Tokyo Planetary Cafe."